Artists are associated with a profile level. During their career, an artist may remain on one level or bounce back and forth between two. Many factors may determine the level of an artist, such as their design, their personal story, or how extensively they have been exhibited.

Artists are associated with a profile level. During their career, an artist may remain on one level or bounce back and forth between two. Many factors may determine the level of an artist, such as their design, their personal story, or how extensively they have been exhibited.

“The Dreamtime is the mythological representation of what Aboriginal people carry in their minds. The source of life! This knowledge has not just been planted in their minds, it is taught and structured through initiation and ceremony.”- Professor A.P. Elkin, Professor of Anthology, 1920’s-1930’s.

“The Dreamtime is the mythological representation of what Aboriginal people carry in their minds. The source of life! This knowledge has not just been planted in their minds, it is taught and structured through initiation and ceremony.”- Professor A.P. Elkin, Professor of Anthology, 1920’s-1930’s.

Soakage by Lena Pwerle

This painting has been hand painted by Lena Pwerle of Utopia, Central Australia. Circular designs represent soakages (or waterholes)that are spread across her land in the Utopia Region.

Lena says that these soakages, now all dried and used up, had plenty of water in them long ago, even when she was growing up, providing her people with a much needed water supply. With their intimate knowledge of the land, Lena’s people knew how and where to find them in the harsh desert environment.

“Long time [ago] olden time mob get their little coolamon (bowl), they check them [soakages] – proper good one water! They been find ‘em under the ground. My grandmother taught me where to find ‘em. They dry now, they finish. They [my people] drink bore water now” - Lena Pwerle

Explore Lena

"A two and a half hour drive from Alice Springs, up the Sandover Highway and deep into Central Australia's remote Utopia region, will get you to Arlparra Store where elder Lena Pwerle lives in a small humpy.

The humpy is made of corrugated tin and held up by branches, boxes and rope. It fits three mattresses atop steel bed frames; one for herself, her sister Rosie and her daughter Nora. "